A croc mystery of epic proportions

The 4m-plus saltwater crocodile, apparently shot dead and strung up by the jaws, towers over an unidentified farm worker near Innisfail's South Johnstone River, in far north Queensland.

He holds a rear claw of the giant predator in a throwback to trophy-hunting days.

The young man appears to be dwarfed by the size and scale of the beast.

Environment officials last night launched an investigation to confirm if the crocodile was the latest to be illegally killed - or if it was one of four crocs known to have been shot or caught on baited steel hooks two weeks ago.